This collection of essays by thirteen renowned specialists in the fields of French Renaissance literature and history is a fitting tribute to the scholarship of Pauline Smith, Emeritus Professor in French at the University of Hull and Research Associate of the Centre for Medieval and Renaissance Studies, Trinity College, Dublin. The essays, which focus on areas of research to which Professor Smith has herself given - and continues to give - particular attention, are organised into two frequently converging strands: court and humour. The contributors engage with political and cultural issues at the heart of the construction and aesthetic expression of the French Renaissance, whilst also offering insights into the broader European context. The collection as a whole challenges and revises a number of established views and identifies paths for future research.

Of particular significance for an understanding of early Church history are the Waldensians, members of a dissident religious movement which originated in France in the twelfth century and resided primarily in the Duchy of Savoy and Northern and Southern Italy, before moving to other parts of Europe. Bringing together contributions by leading scholars in the field, this volume of essays discusses the construction and transmission of Waldensian identity through discourse and cultural production. It highlights in particular the religious and political significance of the Waldensians at an international level, not least with regard to the Reformation and its aftermath. Fundamental to the research presented are the rich holdings of Waldensian manuscripts in the Old Library of Trinity College Dublin and also in Cambridge, Geneva and Grenoble. The volume is divided into two parts and its first section, "Editing Waldensian Texts and Manuscripts", considers Waldensian texts and manuscripts, their circulation, physical characteristics, language and textual sources. The second section, "Constructing Waldensian Identity", examines the shifting representation of Waldensian identity through stereotypes, modern literature, the visual arts and historical accounts; the role played by specific libraries, individuals, gifts, and countries in promoting and fashioning Waldensian identity is also brought to light. A key aim of the volume is to offer a review of research to date and to point to future directions for study.

Lo studio rilegge il teatro in volgare del Quattrocento concentrandosi sulle corti padane di Mantova, Ferrara e Milano. L'esame complessivo dei tre centri permette di "fare sistema", di delineare una storia unitaria delle rappresentazioni quattrocentesche, che alimentano le richieste elative, ideologiche, encomiastiche e politiche della committenza signorile. Partendo da una prospettiva ampia - che tiene insieme letteratura, spettacolo e filologia - si da conto di uno spaccato avvincente, ma poco conosciuto, dell'Italia rinascimentale. Il saggio opera altresi precise distinzioni tra opere di raffinata elaborazione - che hanno svolto un ruolo di paradigm imprescindibile e sono da accogliere a pieno titolo tra i capolavori della civilta letteraria quattrocentesca (in particolare l'Orpheo, il Cefalo, il Timone, la Pasitea) - e altre meno significative da un punto di vista estetico, ma organiche al progetto cortigiano. Infine, lo spazio privilegiato concesso alla fabula mantovana di Poliziano, che esercita sul teatro padano un'attrazione assoluta, e segno di una precisa scelta storiografica: il libro descrive un panorama culturale davvero mosso nelle sue spinte progettuali, nei suoi laboriosi tentativi, tra ibridismo e duttilita, di confrontarsi con un nuovo genere letterario.

Taking conflict as its collective theme, this book brings together the work of early modern specialists to offer a range of insights into the political, social and religious climate in Savoy between 1400 and 1700. The contributors focus on the broader context of early modern European history, making clear the sometimes overlooked political and historical significance of Savoy. The volume explores the diverse mechanisms whereby political, social and religious conflicts were articulated with reference to a wide range of primary sources, many of which are unpublished. The chapters offer important perspectives on subjects such as: the diplomatic relations between the court of Savoy and certain foreign powers during a time of European unrest; the role of propaganda; the construction of national and religious identities; and persecution and resistance, notably in relation to the Reformation and the Waldensians. The conclusions that are established advance a better understanding of the history of Savoy and of the broader conflicts shaping Europe in the early modern period.